Total population (thousands) in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Total population (thousands) was 23,812 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
23,812 thousands
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
59th
of 233 countries
All-time high
23,812 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
5,561 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Burkina Faso, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Burkina Faso stood at 23,812 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Burkina Faso peaked at 23,812 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5,561 thousands, in 1970.
Burkina Faso ranks 59th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5,561 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 5,660 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 5,756 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 5,858 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 5,966 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 6,084 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 6,211 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 6,350 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 6,507 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 6,675 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 6,853 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 7,043 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 7,238 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 7,443 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 7,660 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 7,885 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 8,115 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 8,343 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 8,571 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 8,803 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 9,039 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 9,280 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 9,509 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 9,749 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 9,994 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 10,253 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 10,520 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 10,792 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 11,077 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 11,405 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 11,745 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 12,106 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 12,484 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 12,878 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 13,288 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 13,714 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 14,151 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 14,597 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 15,036 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 15,480 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 15,940 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 16,413 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 16,911 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 17,434 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 17,957 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 18,502 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 19,053 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 19,617 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 20,172 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 20,705 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 21,219 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 21,738 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 22,252 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 22,766 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 23,286 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 23,812 thousands | +2.3% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 23,812 thousands is above the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 23,812 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6,063 thousands | 5,561 thousands | 6,675 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 7,795 thousands | 6,853 thousands | 8,803 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,162 thousands | 9,039 thousands | 11,405 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,548 thousands | 11,745 thousands | 15,480 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,270 thousands | 15,940 thousands | 20,705 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,512 thousands | 21,219 thousands | 23,812 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More population data for Burkina Faso
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2492 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 40,542 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.35 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4791 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 182.22 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.29 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Burkina Faso?
- Total population in Burkina Faso was 23,812 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 23,812 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,561 thousands in 1970.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for total population?
- Burkina Faso ranks 59th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release